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A lone figure rides into Indie Rock Town. He’s a straight shooter, unmatched in his ability to create lovably goofy, naturally infectious jangle pop. He’s the man, the myth, the Canadian legend, Mac DeMarco, and his latest album is called Here Comes the Cowboy . Fusing his new and deeply weird (check out the album visuals, music videos, and promo materials) Wild West persona with lazy, dreamy lo-fi and the occasional jammed-out funk shuffle, the album promises the kind of left-of-center pleasures that have won over fans from across the spectrum. Essential summer listening for fans of sweet, silly college rock and riding off into the sunset.

After nearly ten years in the indie rock game, Local Natives sound fresher and more vital than ever on their new album, Violet Street . The band have mastered the art of layering vocal harmonies over smooth yet heart-rending melodies, creating gorgeous songs that are simultaneously funky and soul-stirring. Need a slightly melancholy toe-tapper? That’s “When Am I Gonna Lose You.” Looking for the perfect soundtrack for your desert road trip? There’s the sweeping, cinematic “Cafe Amarillo.” Violet Street is all killer, no filler; a perfectly polished pearl of an LP.

Gods of Viking metal Amon Amarth roar back onto the battle ground with the mighty Berserker . Taking its name from the most formidable human warriors in Norse mythology, the album is jam-packed with fierce dragons, sun-eating wolves and fearsome scenes of war. Berserker finds Amon Amarth branching out from their usual riff-heavy, riotous sound; though, of course, there’s plenty of head banging to be had, there are also moments of calm, pseudo-classical acoustic sections and even a string ensemble. Fans should find plenty to enjoy as the band pushes the envelope into uncharted sonic territory.

Bear’s Den are experts at creating crossover-friendly rootsy numbers that fit in nicely next to works from like-minded bands Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers or Bon Iver. But on their latest, So That You Might Hear Me , they’re stepping out, building on their backwoods sensibilities, incorporating electronic elements, bold horns, and rowdy guitar riffs. There’s a lot of heart here as well as a lot of boot-stompin’ hootenanny potential. On So That You Might Hear Me , the London trio has crafted an intimate, earnest collection of songs that finds the band experimenting and evolving their familiar indie folk sound to great success.

Toronto rock band Greys experiment more with post-punk than grungy guitar rock on their new album, but still lean on the '90s fuzz. In contrast to their sophomore release, Age Hasn't Spoiled You offers tracks like “Kill Appeal” - angular and dark, with just a nod towards the industrial, and a driving chorus that almost sounds like Iceage. Yet “These Things Happen” has a distortion-heavy, catchy chorus more reminiscent of Blur, contrasted with lyrics about fatigue in the face of social and political issues. The band merges these disparate elements surprisingly effectively, delivering strong dynamics and melodies. “Arc Light” starts out droney and chilly with heavy vocal effects and then morphs into an uplifting chorus that somehow still works.

Luke Sital-Singh delivers his third album of folk rock, entitled A Golden State in a tribute to his relocation from England to California. Filled with personal reflections and often quietly uplifting, tracks like “Lover” slide into subtle, melodic choruses while “Almost Gone” wraps the listener in warm piano chords. On “The Last Day,” Sital-Singh draws in listeners with his slightly husky voice and liquid figure-picking, while “Los Angeles” is an unabashedly sweet ode to starting a new life in a new place. This is an album with its heart on its sleeve, perfect for sleepy but hopeful weekend mornings.

In Esperanza Spalding's music, the orchestral meets the art-funk and the prog, shedding genre restraints in favor of sheer inventiveness. The Bjork-esque concept for her new album, 12 Little Spells , is that each song is dedicated to a body part or function, which in someone else's hands might sound superficial, but the sophisticated music and witty lyrics surpass the concept; ultimately it's just a springboard for Spalding's mountains of talent. “The Longing Deep Down,” for example, is an avant-garde, at times spoken-word, steadily building, fascinating rumination that evokes much more than the abdominal system. The title track is certainly a highlight with its magical atmosphere and incantational melody – in unlikely praise of the thoracic spine.

Nobody does it like Flying Lotus. After a five year pause between albums, the gifted producer and musician returns with Flamagra and he’s brought quite the star-studded cast of collaborators along. Woven through Lotus’ forward-thinking fusion of free jazz, hip-hop, and electronica come contributions from the likes of Anderson .Paak, George Clinton, David Lynch, Little Dragon, Solange, Tierra Whack, Denzel Curry, Shabazz Palaces, Thundercat, and Toro y Moi. An exhilarating sonic evolution plays out over the course of this epic 27-track LP — fans will enjoy the ride on this cosmic journey.

Twin Cities-based post-punks Lifter Puller never quite got the recognition they deserved, later morphing into The Hold Steady, who made up for the lack of adoration by quickly becoming critical darlings throughout the 2000s. At the heart of both bands has been motor-mouthed Craig Finn. Following the cooling down of Steady’s classic rock engine, which often sounded like amphetamine beat poet readings over E Street band jams, Finn has largely ditched monikers and supporting casts, beginning his solo career with 2012’s Clear Heart Full Eyes . The Hold Steady may hardly exist these days, but Finn’s pen hasn’t slowed down and I Need A New War continues his long-running Great American Novel. Over a tapestry of ragged rock ‘n roll heavy on harmonicas, wheezy organ, and Salvation Army brass band-horns, Finn narrates his weary Midwestern characters as only he can, with verse and voice that instantly transport the listener into those same dive bars and back alleys. There’s nothing commercial or cosmetic about this kind of Americana, but I Need A New War is beautifully unbeautiful.

The eclectic Jessie Reyez combines her two EPs, Being Human In Public and Kiddo , into this double release. Her direct and raw lyrics delivered in a scratchy baby-voiced wail lend her a tough vulnerability first revealed in Kiddo 's straggly ballad, “Figures,” and is reinforced in the near-mumble rap tune, “Fuck Being Friends” from Being Human In Public . “Shutter Island” offers Lorde-esque, light R&B touches while the lyrically dark “Gatekeeper” edges even further into that genre; “Body Count” bursts free as a poppier anthem against slut-shaming.

Cate Le Bon’s aptly named Reward is a real winner. The quietly powerful Welsh songwriter dreamed up the album while living in relative isolation in England’s Lake District and attending a year-long architecture program where she learned to make furniture. It’s a great album creation story — and an even better album. Eschewing her usual reliance on the guitar, Le Bon turned to the piano for this new collection of songs. (Don’t worry, the guitar still makes an appearance, as does a saxophone!) The result is an intimate, slightly wistful album imbued with clarity and captivating melodies. Highly recommended.

Barrie’s debut LP Happy To Be Here is charming, upbeat and sweet as candy. It’s basically bubblegum dreampop, with infectious hooks and dreamy, breezy melodies. There’s something familiar and cozy about the LP that still sounds fresh—these are the sort of songs you feel you’ve been needing your whole life and now that they’re finally here, all is right in this pastel-hued world. Ideal for lazy summer afternoons, beach parties, and being young and carefree.

What's In My Bag?

DJ, producer & electronic artist Matthew Dear talks about Marcellus Pittman's ability to make house music magic and he picks up LPs to introduce to his children, including Joni Mitchell, Townes Van Zandt, and Bob Wills.

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Amoeblog

Burger Boogaloo returns July 6-7 to Oakland’s Mosswood Park with host John Waters, performances by The Jesus and Mary Chain, Scientists, Dead Boys & more, plus we'll be there with vinyl and other goodies.